PREPARING TO WORSHIP

PREPARING TO WORSHIP

                What does it take to get a church service ready?  For instance, the musical portions of the service don’t just happen.  The songs the congregation will sing must be picked out to match the theme or subject of the service.  Those need to be communicated to the instrumentalists so they can practice.  If there is to be special music, it needs to be rehearsed, sound checks done, etc.

                The sermon takes preparation.  The late Bro. Don DeWelt of Ozark Christian College suggested blocking out around 18 or more hours for study, writing, and rehearsal.  I have heard others suggest upwards of 40 hours of prep time for a good sermon.  The Scriptures chosen need to be thoroughly and accurately studied.  Appropriate and meaningful sermon illustrations need to be chosen.  Rehearsal needs to done to keep the preacher from heading down any “rabbit trails” during the presentation.

                There are numerous, some would consider trivial, details to be considered and prepared for.  For instance, bulletins or programs need to be typed, copied, collated, folded, and ready for distribution.  If there are additions to the service, preparations for them need to be made.  Will there be Baptisms?  The baptistery needs to be filled.  Will communion be served?  The bread and juice need to be prepared, and additions made to the day’s program.

                What do you do to get ready to simply participate in a church service?  I dare say most of us haven’t stopped to consider the fact we need to be ready to take part in even if it’s just sitting in a pew.  The Biblical example of such a preparation time is the Day of Preparation that preceded each Sabbath.  Exodus 20:8-11 says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (NJKV).  To comply with this command, a day of preparation was needed.  There are three parts of ourselves we need to make ready.

                There are physical preparations to be made.  While living in South Dakota I became good friends with a Seventh Day Adventist minister serving in the same town.  One of the major differences between our churches was the fact the SDA held to strictly remembering the Sabbath.  This included the admonition to do no work.  He described for me his families preparation on Friday for the Saturday Sabbath.  His wife would prepare their meals in advance so a minimum of effort would be needed on Saturday.  They would even leave any clean-up to be done on Sunday, the day after the Sabbath.  Do you consider this extreme, or is it an extreme devotion to following the Lord and His Word.

                A more basic application of the principle of physically preparing for worship includes two elements.  First – get enough sleep the night before.  Can you really worship when you spent to the wee hours of Sunday morning “Getting your Groove On”?  Second – eat breakfast.  Can you concentrate while your stomach is growling “Feed Me”?

                There are emotional preparations to be made.  Matthew 5:23&24 says, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (NKJV).  Can you worship and be at peace with God knowing someone, perhaps someone seated in the same sanctuary, has a grievance against you.  Hebrews 12:14 adds, “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” (NKJV).  Psalm 24:3-5 reads, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (NKJV)

                Finally we need to prepare Spiritually for worship.  In Acts chapter 1 Jesus instructs his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the fulfillment of Gods’ promise to send a helper, a counselor, a comforter, the Holy Spirit.  They complied waiting in the upper room.  The Spirit would later be poured out upon them.  Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God…” (NKJV).  In otherwords, while you are praying, shut up and listen as well.

                I challenge you for the next four Sundays, come prepared to worship.  Clear any physical barriers that would effect your ability to participate in worship.  Take an emotional inventory, and seek to make amends wherever possible.  Finally, come in prayed up and with an open mind and heart to receive the blessings of the Lord.

Dr. O